Trump discovers what one rapper really thinks as another rapper weighs in

The Chicago Sun-Times publishes a transcript of Kanye West’s speech at the Oval Office, Friday:

We have a good — and the thing is, let’s stop worrying about the future. All we really have is today. We just have today. Over and over and over again, the eternal return. The hero’s journey. And Trump is on his hero’s journey right now. And he might not have expected to have a crazy motherf..ker like Kanye West run up and support, but best believe we are going to make America great. Now, the thing is my — another thing is black people have an issue with the word “again”. And I believe — my feeling from that is because I’m going to throw — I’m going to go all the way, (inaudible), because time is a myth … So I actually brought some hats in that have a bit of a transition. I’m not trying to put you — (inaudible) in the spot a little bit. I made a hat that says Make America Great. Just that.

Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel gives his take, Friday:

It’s like Trump’s sitting across from his own Twitter account come to life.

CNN’s Don Lemon:

That was hard to watch. This was a man who needs help. He needs help. I’ve said it before. President Trump is exploiting Kanye, using him to try to reach black voters.

Perth Now quoted rapper T.I. who says he is “officially done” with West and accuses him of ingratiating himself with Trump, Friday:

This is the most repulsive, disgraceful, embarrassing act of desperation & auctioning off of one’s soul to gain power I’ve ever seen.

Reporter Rex Huppke, Chicago Tribune, Friday:

Can I have all my conservative, Don­ald Trump-loving friends please put their hands together and rap along with me: “I’m a sick (expletive)/ I like a quick (expletive)/I like my (slang for male sex organ) (inappropriate word, in context)/I’ll buy you a sick truck!”

Your taxpayers’ money well spent on important research, press release, Thursday:

A study conducted by the Queensland University of Technology and (and online dating group Giga Pty Ltd) explored factors relevant for individuals who self-identify as one of the many possible non-binary gender options (not man or woman). Using data from 7479 Australian respondents, the study is the first of its kind to conduct an analysis using a large sample of non-binary individuals. The study gauged the relationship between biological and social processes and new gender identification terms and categories that expand on historical man-woman polarity.

A fascinating insight into academe from QUT’s Stephen Whyte:

While gender can no doubt be a complex issue for males, our research showed just how many factors can influence a female’s decision, including reproductive pressure, labour market inequality and disproportionate levels of education — even female height was a statistically relevant factor, with taller females more likely to identify as non-binary.

Cassie McCullagh, ABC Radio Sydney, Friday:

I don’t want to use the word emasculate because it’s too gender oriented.

The Sunday Telegraph’s Sauce column asks where’s Bill, yesterday:

He visited the seat of Braddon no less than 14 times … in the July by-election, while popping into Longman on nine occasions … But so far, Labor leader Bill Shorten has given Wentworth short shrift. The lack of the red shirt brigade has prompted questions from observers if Labor is running dead.